Apparatus for curling and setting hat-brims



(No Model.)

L. H. HOYT.

APPARATUS FOR GURLING AND SETTING HAT BRIM'S.

No. 314,131. Patented Mann 17, 1885.

N. PETERS. Phowumo m hw, Washinglofl. D. c. a

Nirnn Srrrrns PATENT Denice.

LUGIUS H. HOYT, or DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR CURLING AND SETTENG HAT-BRIMS.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 31 1-,131, dated March 17, 1885.

Application filed June 2S3, 1894. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

, a single covering-sheet will serve for many variations in the sizes of the hats and in the breadths of the brims, and will so cover'and conceal the joints in the metal portions that the latter may be formed as overlapping parts sliding one upon another, and the changes of dimensions will be so induced.

I have in Letters Patent to me dated June 3, 1884, No. 299,644, shown a hat setting machine having metallic parts thus organized and working. The machine as there described is useful; but a difficulty is involved in the fact that the several plates of metal to pos sess the proper strength and rigidity must have considerable thickness, and, as the edge of one overlaps more or less upon the surface of another, in the expanding and contracting of the diameter and in the change of breadth of the brim they tend to make ridges or lines where the shape is imperfect.

According to my present invention a single covering-sheet of vulcanized indie-rubber ex tends over the whole upper surface of the shaping partsin a smooth continuous sheet. As the brim-shaping parts are expanded or contracted this sheet by its elasticity correspondingly expands and contracts. The rigid parts overlap on each other to various degrees. No matter where the edges of the uppermost overlapping parts come, the india-rubber covering-sheet of only from a sixteenth to an eighth of an inch in thickness conceals and disguises the joint, so that itis not appreciable in its ing apparatus in which an india-rubber surface is presented on which the hat is shaped;

- but this comes far short of the point attained by mine. In the Smith and Hall patent the metallic parts do not overlap, but are separated by joints which are entirely open. The rubber is not of uniform or approximately uniform thickness, but is formed with ribs which match in the open joints. Smith and Halls device cannot be changed in dimensions except by opening a joint wider than the rib or ridge of rubber which is intended to filtit,

thus leaving the joint only partly filled and the rubber which extends across thejoint badly supported, or, on the other hand, closing the jointso that it is thinner than the rubber ridge, the rubber being previously introduced into place and the metal parts brought together by powerful means, so as to forcibly compress the ridge of rubber. When the Smith and Hall apparatus is open wide, so that the rubber sinks at the joints, it tends to make a bad place in the hat by the hat sinking too low along the line ofjoint. \Vhen it is closed up, so that it much compresses the ridge of rubber, it tends to make a bad place in the hat by the rubber being squeezedmpward and correspondingly lifting the hat along those lines.

My invention allows a wider range of expansion and contraction of the metallic parts, and provides a practically even surface on which the hat may be treated without showing the lines or areas of defective shaping in any of the conditions.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the apparatus complete Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view with a portion of the rubber covering broken away to show the overlapping shaping parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the rubber alone. Fig. 4 is on-a larger scale. It is a section through the overlapping joint between two of the me tallio parts, witha portion of the rubber covering fitting thereon, and concealing (and preventing any ill effect from) the irregularity in the surfaces thus produced.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I will describe the invention as applied with the overlapping rigid parts as set forth in the patent to me, N0. 299,644, dated June 3, 1884.; but it will be understood that these 1 shaping-piece.

M is the outer side-shaper and R the inner side-shaper.

The means for stiffiy supporting and adjusting these rigid metallic parts I J M B may be as set forth in my said patent of June 3, 1884, and need not be particularly described here.

My india-rubbcr covering is marked Y, portions being distinguished when necessary by additional marks, as Y Y. A continuous smooth portion, Y, extends over the upper face of the shaping parts I J M B. An approximately cylindricalportion, Y extends downward from the inner edge of Y.

Y is an extension inward from the outer edge of Y.

I have in my experiments made the portion Y about one and three-quarters (12-) inch wide, and about three thirty-seconds of an inch thick; and the inner-part, Y about three inches deep and a sixteenth of an inch thick at the upper edge, increasing'at about half its depth to an eighth of an inch thick; and I have made the inwardly-extending portion Y" about an eighth of an inch thick, the extension inward and downward of the part Y being sufficient to reach nearly or quite to the metallicparts which lie adjacent to the hatcrowu. The entire piece Y is preferably made in a single piece of vulcanized rubber; but I believe it may be made to serve by piecing.

Instead of pure vulcanized rubber,ordinary adulterants may be used, giving firmness and body with eco aomy; but it is important to retain a large amount of the peculiar elastic quality which is so conspicuous in pure rub her, in order that the dimensions of the hatbody and the breadth of the brim may be varied within wide limits by the simple extensi bility and contractility of thecovering Y, the latter being smooth and applying close to the metallic parts in all conditions.

I will term the material rubber, and I prefer that it be nearly pure rubber, worked with the right proportions ofsulphur,and vulcanized to constitute soft vulcanized rubber.

It will be obvious that the rigid parts I J, &c., may be made with widely-varying degrees of curvature; so as on the one hand to shape brims which are nearly plane, or, on the other hand, brims which have very great curvature or scope without requiring any change of the elastic covering Y.

In collapsing or closing together the hard metallic parts to remove a hat after shaping the rubber covering Y may become slackened and lose its proper shape; but after applying a fresh hat and properly expanding the me tallic parts the rubber is sure to be drawn into a smooth-fitting condition, so it is certain to be smooth and shapely at the periods while it is wanted.

I have demonstrated by trial that a continuous sheet ofrubber of a thickness ofonly about a sixteenth of an inch is sufficient to avoid the offensive marking by the edges of the lapping part and allow the hat-brim with the gentle force of the hands or other pressure to be shaped thereon smoothly and uniformly.

\Vhen the rubber is applied in the correct position, it may be confined by any suitable means applied, preferably, at or near the lower edge, Y.

I claim as my invention- 1. The elastic covering described, composed of soft vulcanizedindia-rubber having a cylindrical portion, Y upper or working face,

Y, and inward extension Y adapted to serve on a hat-brim shaper, as herein specified.

2. In a hat-brim shaper, the combination, with properly-formed overlapping rigid parts, as I J, a covering-piece, Y, of india-rubber or analogous elastic material, contracting and expanding by its own elasticity as the rigid parts are lapped more or less, as herein specified.

In testimony whereofIhave hereunto set my hand, at Danbury, this 16th day of June, 1884, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUOIUS H. HOYT.

Witnesses:

GEORGE WV. FLINT, ALLAN WV. PAIGE. 

